US4783501A - Method for preparing a polymeric composition - Google Patents

Method for preparing a polymeric composition Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US4783501A
US4783501A US06/898,496 US89849686A US4783501A US 4783501 A US4783501 A US 4783501A US 89849686 A US89849686 A US 89849686A US 4783501 A US4783501 A US 4783501A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
monomer
inorganic compound
sup
parts
radical
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US06/898,496
Inventor
Isao Sasaki
Nobuhiro Mukai
Hitoshi Ige
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP18864285A external-priority patent/JPS6250313A/en
Priority claimed from JP18864385A external-priority patent/JPS6250314A/en
Application filed by Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd filed Critical Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd
Assigned to MITSUBISHI RAYON CO., LTD. reassignment MITSUBISHI RAYON CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: IGE, HITOSHI, MUKAI, NOBUHIRO, SASAKI, ISAO
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4783501A publication Critical patent/US4783501A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08FMACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
    • C08F292/00Macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerising monomers on to inorganic materials

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a novel method for preparing a polymeric composition in which an inorganic compound is firmly consolidated in an organic polymer.
  • the present inventors have previously proposed a method for firmly consolidating an inorganic compound and an organic polymer, wherein a radical polymerizable vinyl monomer and an inorganic compound as a third component are contacted in the presence of a certain specific organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,540, issued on Mar. 6, 1984).
  • this method is based on the non-catalytic polymerization of the vinyl monomer by the contact of the specific organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer with the inorganic compound, and thus has a problem that the degree of polymerization of the monomer and the graft rate i.e.
  • the ratio of the organic polymer firmly consolidated to the formed polymer are not necessarily adequate.
  • the applicable vinyl monomer is restricted to the one composed mainly of methyl acrylate or methyl methacrylate, and thus has a drawback that the useful monomer is rather limited.
  • the present invention provides a method for preparing a polymeric composition in which an inorganic compound is firmly consolidated in an organic polymer, which comprises polymerizing at least one radical polymerizable vinyl monomer in an aqueous medium polymerization system comprising an inorganic compound dispersed in the presence of an organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer, by using a radical polymerization initiator.
  • the organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer is preferably a sulfonic acid monomer or sulfonate monomer of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R 1 is a hydrogen atom, a C 1 -C 20 alkyl group or a halogen atom, X is ##STR2## (wherein each of R 2 and R 3 is a hydrogen atom or a C 1 -C 15 alkyl group, and R 4 is a C 1 -C 15 alkylene group), -COO(CH 2 m (wherein m is an integer of 1 to 20) or CH 2 n (wherein n is an integer of 0 to 20), and Y is a hydrogen atom, an ammonium radical or an alkali metal atom; or a carboxylic acid monomer or carboxylate monomer of the formula: ##STR3## wherein each of R 5 and R 6 is a hydrogen atom, a C 1 -C 15 alkyl group or --COOA (wherein A
  • a feature of the present invention is that the interaction between the surface of the inorganic compound and the polymer formed according to the method of the present invention, is derived from a firmly consolidated chemical bond beyond simple adsorption or physical adhesion by e.g. van der Waals adsorption.
  • an inorganic compound is suspended and dispersed in an aqueous medium at a temperature within a range in which a radical polymerization initiator decomposes, and an organic vinyl monomer, a specific organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer and a radical polymerization initiator are added and stirred to conduct aqueous heterogeneous polymerization, whereupon a copolymer of the vinyl monomer with the organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer is uniformly and firmly bonded to the surface of the inorganic compound with a high degree of polymerization and graft rate in a predetermined period of polymerization.
  • the sulfonic acid monomer or sulfonate monomer of the formula I is required to have a double bond as an active site attributable to the polymerizability by a radical polymerization initiator and a sulfonic acid group as an active site which brings about a firm consolidation by the interaction with hydroxyl groups present on the surface of the inorganic compound and the resulting polymer. Any compound having a structure containing these functional groups can be employed.
  • AMS 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid
  • SEM-Na sodium 2-methacryloylethanesulfonate
  • SPS sodium 3-methacryloylpropanesulfonate
  • NaAS sodium 2-propenesulfonate
  • NaMS sodium 2-methyl-2-propenesulfonate
  • the carboxylic acid monomer or carboxylate monomer of the formulas II and III is required to have a double bond as an active site attributable to the polymerizability by a radical polymerization initiator and a carboxylic acid group as an active site which brings about a firm consolidation by the interaction with hydroxyl groups present on the surface of the organic compound and the formed polymer.
  • Any compound having a structure containing these functional groups may be employed.
  • acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, tiglic acid, cinnamic acid, maleic anhydride and citraconic anhydride particularly preferred are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid and maleic anhydride, as they have high polymerization activities and graft efficiency (i.e. efficiency for firm consolidation of the formed polymer).
  • a carbide, nitride or boride of silicon or zirconium, or zirconium oxide is particularly preferred, in view of remarkable effects for the activation of the vinyl monomer and for the firm consolidation with the polymer.
  • any conventional radical polymerizable vinyl monomer may be employed.
  • radical polymerization initiator to be used in the present invention any conventional peroxide or azo compound may be employed.
  • a radical polymerization initiator which is decomposable at a temperature within a range of from 40°to 100° C. is particularly useful.
  • peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide, azobisisobutyronitrile and potassium persulfate, and azo compounds.
  • the polymeric composition after the reaction was thoroughly dried at 105° C. for one day and night, and then about 5 g of the composition was completely burned at 650° C. for 3 hours, whereupon the amount of the polymer consolidated to the inorganic compound was calculated from the weight reduction. Then, the consolidation rate was obtained in accordance with the following formula: ##EQU1##
  • Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 as shown in Table 1 were continuously extracted by Soxhlet for 50 hours with benzene, 50 hours with acetone and 200 hours with dimethylforamide, as good solvents for methyl methacrylate-SEM-Na copolymers, whereby the reduction in the polymer contents was studied.
  • the results are shown in Table 2.
  • the polymer content after being thoroughly extracted with dimethylformamide for 200 hours was evaluated to be a graft rate in the sense that the polymer is firmly consolidated to the surface of the inorganic compound by means of a chemical bond.
  • compositions Comparative Examples 4 and 5 wherein an inorganic powder (silicon nitride) was coated with a polymer obtained by the solvent blending with polymethyl methacrylate or with a methyl methacrylate-SEM-Na copolymer whereby the reduction in the polymer content was compared.
  • Example 1 in Example 1 according to the method of the present invention wherein a radical polymerization initiator was added in the presence of a sulfonic acid monomer or sulfonate monomer, the extracted rate after the series of severe extraction operations, was very small, indicating a high graft rate. Further, even when the polymeric composition was subjected to washing treatment with an aqueous NaOH solution, it showed a high graft rate substantially equal to the level after the extraction operations. Thus, it was confirmed that the firm consolidation of the polymer to the surface of the inorganic compound was attributable to the presence of a covalent bond-type graft linkage as a chemical bond stronger than a hydrogen bond or ionic bond at the interface.
  • the graft efficiency is higher with lipophilic radical polymerization initiators such as BPO, LPO and AIBN than with water-soluble AIBA and KPS.
  • Example 6 The reaction was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the type of the inorganic compound was changed, and the composition thereby obtained was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 6.
  • the method of the present invention is superior to the conventional noncatalytic polymerization system in both the polymerization degree and the graft efficiency, and thus indicates that it is capable of providing a polymeric composition of a higher quality.
  • Example 14 and Comparative Examples 10 to 12 as shown in Table 8 were continuously extracted by Soxhlet for 50 hours with benzene, 50 hours with acetone and 200 hours with dimethylformamide, as good solvents for methyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymers, whereby the reduction in the polymer contents was studied.
  • the results are shown in Table 9.
  • the polymer content after being thoroughly extracted with dimethylformamide for 200 hours was evaluated to be a graft rate in the sense that the polymer is firmly consolidated to the surface of the inorganic compound by means of a chemical bond.
  • compositions Comparative Examples 13 and 14
  • an inorganic powder silicon nitride
  • a polymer obtained by the solvent blending with polymethyl methacrylate or with a methyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymer whereby the reduction in the polymer content was compared.
  • Example 14 wherein a radical polymerization initiator was added in the presence of a carboxylic acid monomer, the extracted rate after the series of severe extraction operations, was very small, indicating a high graft rate. Further, even when the polymeric composition was subjected to washing treatment with an aqueous NaOH solution, it showed a high graft rate substantially equal to the level after the extraction operations. Thus, it was confirmed that the firm consolidation of the polymer to the surface of the inorganic compound was attributable to the presence of a covalent bond-type graft linkage as a chemical bond stronger than a hydrogen bond or ionic bond at the interface.
  • the polymerization was carried out in the same manner as in Example 14, except that acrylic acid, crotonic acid, tiglic acid, cinnamic acid or maleic anhydride was used as the carboxylic acid monomer instead of methacrylic acid.
  • the graft efficiency was measured, and the results are shown in Table 10.
  • the method of the present invention is superior to the conventional noncatalytic polymerization system in both the polymerization degree and the graft efficiency, and thus indicates that it is capable of providing a polymeric composition of a higher quality.

Abstract

A method for preparing a polymeric composition in which an inorganic compound is firmly consolidated in an organic polymer, which comprises polymerizing at least one radical polymerizable vinyl monomer in an aqueous medium polymerization system comprising an inorganic compound dispersed in the presence of an organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer, by using a radical polymerization initiator.

Description

The present invention relates to a novel method for preparing a polymeric composition in which an inorganic compound is firmly consolidated in an organic polymer.
Heretofore, there have been active researches for the development of composite materials, wherein two or more materials are combined to mutually complement the properties of the respective materials to present a new useful function. In recent years, an attention has been drawn not only to mere application of an inorganic compound powder to a composite material as a filler, but also to a composite material such as a ceramic material, a magnetic material or a dental material, wherein a powder of an inorganic compound having a high level of function imparted thereto is combined with an organic polymer. However, in this case, the materials to be combined are mutually substantially different in their properties, and the interfacial affinity such as the compatibility or adhesion is poor. Thus, such a combination has inherent drawbacks such that the effectiveness of the combination can not adequately be improved, and the function of the inorganic compound powder itself can hardly adequately be utilized.
Various methods for modifying the surface properties of a powder have been proposed to overcome these drawbacks, to improve the interfacial affinity of the inorganic compound with the organic polymer substance and to attain high packing density, uniform dispersion and high strength. For instance, there may be mentioned a mechano-chemical method in which an inorganic compound is pulverized in the presence of a reactive monomer, followed by grafting an organic polymer, or a radiation method wherein an inorganic substance is irradiated with a high-energy radiation to be grafted with an organic polymer. These methods, however, require a grinding step or installation of a radiation equipment, resulting in complication of the manufacturing process and increase of the manufacturing cost, and present difficult problems for the practicability of the process.
Further, as an example for the surface modification of a powder in which an in situ polymerization for microcapsulation is employed, the present inventors have previously proposed a method for firmly consolidating an inorganic compound and an organic polymer, wherein a radical polymerizable vinyl monomer and an inorganic compound as a third component are contacted in the presence of a certain specific organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,540, issued on Mar. 6, 1984). However, this method is based on the non-catalytic polymerization of the vinyl monomer by the contact of the specific organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer with the inorganic compound, and thus has a problem that the degree of polymerization of the monomer and the graft rate i.e. the ratio of the organic polymer firmly consolidated to the formed polymer, are not necessarily adequate. Further, the applicable vinyl monomer is restricted to the one composed mainly of methyl acrylate or methyl methacrylate, and thus has a drawback that the useful monomer is rather limited.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymeric composition in which an organic polymer is uniformly and firmly bonded to the surface of an inorganic compound with a remarkably high degree of polymerization and graft rate.
The present invention provides a method for preparing a polymeric composition in which an inorganic compound is firmly consolidated in an organic polymer, which comprises polymerizing at least one radical polymerizable vinyl monomer in an aqueous medium polymerization system comprising an inorganic compound dispersed in the presence of an organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer, by using a radical polymerization initiator.
Now, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments.
The organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer is preferably a sulfonic acid monomer or sulfonate monomer of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom, a C1 -C20 alkyl group or a halogen atom, X is ##STR2## (wherein each of R2 and R3 is a hydrogen atom or a C1 -C15 alkyl group, and R4 is a C1 -C15 alkylene group), -COO(CH2 m (wherein m is an integer of 1 to 20) or CH2 n (wherein n is an integer of 0 to 20), and Y is a hydrogen atom, an ammonium radical or an alkali metal atom; or a carboxylic acid monomer or carboxylate monomer of the formula: ##STR3## wherein each of R5 and R6 is a hydrogen atom, a C1 -C15 alkyl group or --COOA (wherein A is a hydrogen atom, an ammonium radical or an alkali metal atom), R7 is a hydrogen atom or a C1 -C15 alkyl group, Z is a hydrogen atom, an ammonium radical or an alkali metal atom, and each of R8 and R9 is a hydrogen atom or a C1 -C15 alkyl group.
A feature of the present invention is that the interaction between the surface of the inorganic compound and the polymer formed according to the method of the present invention, is derived from a firmly consolidated chemical bond beyond simple adsorption or physical adhesion by e.g. van der Waals adsorption.
Referring to a specific manner for carrying out the present invention, an inorganic compound is suspended and dispersed in an aqueous medium at a temperature within a range in which a radical polymerization initiator decomposes, and an organic vinyl monomer, a specific organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer and a radical polymerization initiator are added and stirred to conduct aqueous heterogeneous polymerization, whereupon a copolymer of the vinyl monomer with the organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer is uniformly and firmly bonded to the surface of the inorganic compound with a high degree of polymerization and graft rate in a predetermined period of polymerization.
In this case, if a usual dispersant such as a polyanion is used, the effect of the present invention can not be obtained.
The sulfonic acid monomer or sulfonate monomer of the formula I is required to have a double bond as an active site attributable to the polymerizability by a radical polymerization initiator and a sulfonic acid group as an active site which brings about a firm consolidation by the interaction with hydroxyl groups present on the surface of the inorganic compound and the resulting polymer. Any compound having a structure containing these functional groups can be employed. For instance, there may be employed 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (hereinafter referred to simply as AMS), sodium 2-methacryloylethanesulfonate (hereinafter referred to simply as SEM-Na), sodium 3-methacryloylpropanesulfonate (hereinafter referred to simply as SPS), sodium 2-propenesulfonate (hereinafter referred to simply as NaAS) and sodium 2-methyl-2-propenesulfonate (hereinafter referred to simply as NaMS). Among them, particularly preferred are AMS containing an amide linkage and SEM-Na and SPS containing an ester linkage, as they have high polymerization activities and graft efficiency (i.e. efficiency for firm consolidation of the formed polymer).
The carboxylic acid monomer or carboxylate monomer of the formulas II and III, is required to have a double bond as an active site attributable to the polymerizability by a radical polymerization initiator and a carboxylic acid group as an active site which brings about a firm consolidation by the interaction with hydroxyl groups present on the surface of the organic compound and the formed polymer. Any compound having a structure containing these functional groups may be employed. For instance, there may be mentioned acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, tiglic acid, cinnamic acid, maleic anhydride and citraconic anhydride. Among them, particularly preferred are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid and maleic anhydride, as they have high polymerization activities and graft efficiency (i.e. efficiency for firm consolidation of the formed polymer).
As the inorganic compound to be used in the present invention, a carbide, nitride or boride of silicon or zirconium, or zirconium oxide is particularly preferred, in view of remarkable effects for the activation of the vinyl monomer and for the firm consolidation with the polymer.
As the vinyl monomer to be used in the present invention, any conventional radical polymerizable vinyl monomer may be employed.
As the radical polymerization initiator to be used in the present invention, any conventional peroxide or azo compound may be employed. However, a radical polymerization initiator which is decomposable at a temperature within a range of from 40°to 100° C. is particularly useful. Among them, particularly preferred from the viewpoint of the graft rate are peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide, azobisisobutyronitrile and potassium persulfate, and azo compounds.
Now, the present invention will be described in further detail with reference to Examples. However, it should be understood that the present invention is by no means restricted by these specific Examples. In the Examples and Comparative Examples, the term "parts" means "parts by weight" unless otherwise specified.
EXAMPLE 1 and COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 to 5
In a 1000 ml four-necked flask equipped with a condensor, a nitrogen inlet, a stirrer and a thermocouple for detecting the internal temperature, 270.0 g of silicon nitride, used as the inorganic compound, was suspended in 700 ml of deionized water to form a dispersion. After flushing the flask with nitrogen for 30 minutes, 28.0 g of methyl methacrylate, used as the vinyl monomer, was added to the dispersion with vigorous stirring under a nitrogen stream. Then, the above reaction mixture was heated to 70° C. in a warm water bath. After confirming the uniform dispersion of the added monomer, a solution of 10.0 g of SEM-Na as the sulfonate monomer in 20 ml of deionized water and a solution of 1.0 g of benzoyl peroxide as the radical initiator in 2.0 g of methyl methacrylate, were gradually added thereto. The mixture was reacted for polymerization at the same temperature for 8 hours. After completion of the polymerization, about 5 g of the reaction mixture was sampled. The sample was tested for the amount of the remaining unreacted monomer by gas chromatography using dioxane as internal standard, and the conversion was obtained.
Further, the polymeric composition after the reaction was thoroughly dried at 105° C. for one day and night, and then about 5 g of the composition was completely burned at 650° C. for 3 hours, whereupon the amount of the polymer consolidated to the inorganic compound was calculated from the weight reduction. Then, the consolidation rate was obtained in accordance with the following formula: ##EQU1##
For the purpose of comparison, similar polymerization operation and evaluation after the polymerization were conducted with respect to the polymerization behavior in the cases where the radical initiator was omitted as in the conventional non-catalytic polymerization system, the sulfonic acid monomer or sulfonate monomer was not added, and a dispersant was added. The results are shown in Table 1.
                                  TABLE 1                                 
__________________________________________________________________________
       Sulfonate                                                          
             Radical Vinyl Inorganic                                      
       monomer                                                            
             polymerization                                               
                     monomer                                              
                           compound                                       
                                  Dispersant                              
                                          Deionized                       
                                                Conversion                
                                                       Consolida-         
       SEM-Na                                                             
             initiator                                                    
                     MMA   Silicon nitride                                
                                  Sodium hexa-                            
                                          water of monomer                
                                                       tion rate          
       (parts)*.sup.1                                                     
             BPO (parts)                                                  
                     (parts)                                              
                           (parts)*.sup.2                                 
                                  metaphosphate                           
                                          (parts)                         
                                                (%)    (%)*.sup.3         
__________________________________________________________________________
Example 1                                                                 
       10.0  1.0     30.0  270.0  --      720   -100   96                 
Comparative                                                               
       10.0  --      30.0  270.0  --      720   71     88                 
Example 1                                                                 
Comparative                                                               
       --    1.0     30.0  270.0  --      720   90      4                 
Example 2                                                                 
Comparative                                                               
       10.0  1.0     30.0  270.0  3.0     720   95     45                 
Example 3                                                                 
__________________________________________________________________________
 *.sup.1 CH.sub.2C.CH.sub.3COOC.sub.2 H.sub.4SO.sub.3 Na                  
 *.sup.2 Special grade reagent                                            
 ##STR4##                                                                 
 BPO: Benzoyl peroxide, MMA: Methyl methacrylate                          
It is evident from Table 1 that in the system of Comparative Example 2 wherein no sulfonic acid monomer or sulfonate monomer was added, the consolidation rate was very poor although a high conversion was obtainable, and a tendency for the separation of the inorganic compound and the homopolymer was observed. Further, it is evident that as compared with Comparative Example 1, the method of the present invention (Example 1) wherein a radical polymerization initiator was added, is superior in both the conversion of monomer and the consolidation rate. Further, in the system of Comparative Example 3 wherein a dispersant was added, the consolidation rate was substantially low, and a tendency for the separation of the homopolymer was observed as in the case of Comparative Example 2.
The polymeric compositions of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 as shown in Table 1, were continuously extracted by Soxhlet for 50 hours with benzene, 50 hours with acetone and 200 hours with dimethylforamide, as good solvents for methyl methacrylate-SEM-Na copolymers, whereby the reduction in the polymer contents was studied. The results are shown in Table 2. Here, the polymer content after being thoroughly extracted with dimethylformamide for 200 hours, was evaluated to be a graft rate in the sense that the polymer is firmly consolidated to the surface of the inorganic compound by means of a chemical bond. For the purpose of comparison, a similar extraction operation was conducted with respect to each of compositions (Comparative Examples 4 and 5) wherein an inorganic powder (silicon nitride) was coated with a polymer obtained by the solvent blending with polymethyl methacrylate or with a methyl methacrylate-SEM-Na copolymer whereby the reduction in the polymer content was compared.
                                  TABLE 2                                 
__________________________________________________________________________
                                            Polymer content               
                                                        Graft             
            Preparation of      Polymer content before                    
                                            continuous extraction*.sup.4  
                                                        efficiency*.sup.5 
                                                        6                 
            polymeric composition*.sup.1                                  
                                extraction (%)                            
                                            (graft rate)                  
                                                        (%)               
__________________________________________________________________________
            Polymerization system                                         
Example 1   Presence of SEM-Na (Present invention)                        
                                9.6         9.1         90                
Comparative Example 1                                                     
            Non-catalytic polymerization system                           
                                6.5         1.8         23                
            without addition of BPO                                       
Comparative Example 2                                                     
            No addition of SEM-Na as opposed                              
                                1.1         -0.0        -0                
            to Example 1                                                  
Comparative Example 3                                                     
            Addition of dispersant as opposed                             
                                4.5         0.9         8.6               
            to Example 1                                                  
            Blend system                                                  
Comparative Example 4                                                     
            Solvent blend of polymethyl                                   
                                9.6         -0.0        --                
            methacrylate*.sup.2                                           
Comparative Example 5                                                     
            Solvent blend of methyl methacrylate-                         
                                9.5         -0.0        --                
            SEM-Na copolymer*.sup.3                                       
__________________________________________________________________________
 *.sup.1 Silicon nitride was used as the inorganic compound.              
 *.sup.2 Acrypet (VH), manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., was    
 used.                                                                    
 *.sup.3 A copolymer prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except   
 that the method of the present invention was conducted in the absence of 
 the inorganic compound, was used.                                        
 *.sup.4 Continuous extraction by Soxhlet for 50 hours with benzene, 50   
 hours with acetone and 200 hours with dimethylformamide.                 
 ##STR5##                                                                 
The polymer components in the compositions of Comparative Examples 2, 4 an 5 were completely extracted by the above continuous extraction operation irrespective of the system being of a polymerization type or of a solvent blend type. This indicates that even in the polymerization system, a polymer forming in the absence of a sulfonic acid monomer or sulfonate monomer, is merely chemically or physically adsorbed on the surface of the inorganic compound. In Comparative Examples 1 and 3, a part of the formed polymer was firmly consolidated to the inorganic compound, but the level of the graft rate was very low. Whereas, in Example 1 according to the method of the present invention wherein a radical polymerization initiator was added in the presence of a sulfonic acid monomer or sulfonate monomer, the extracted rate after the series of severe extraction operations, was very small, indicating a high graft rate. Further, even when the polymeric composition was subjected to washing treatment with an aqueous NaOH solution, it showed a high graft rate substantially equal to the level after the extraction operations. Thus, it was confirmed that the firm consolidation of the polymer to the surface of the inorganic compound was attributable to the presence of a covalent bond-type graft linkage as a chemical bond stronger than a hydrogen bond or ionic bond at the interface.
EXAMPLES 2 to 5
The polymerization was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, except that SPS, AMS, NaAS or NaMS was used as the sulfonic acid monomer or sulfonate monomer instead of SEM-Na. The graft efficiency was measured, and the results are shown in Table 3.
                                  TABLE 3                                 
__________________________________________________________________________
                                Inorganic     Graft                       
                Radical polymeri-                                         
                         Vinyl  compound                                  
                                        Deionized                         
                                              effi-                       
Acid       Amounts                                                        
                zation initiator                                          
                         monomer                                          
                                Silicon water ciency                      
monomer    (parts)                                                        
                BPO (parts)                                               
                         MMA (parts)                                      
                                nitride(parts)                            
                                        (parts)                           
                                              (%)                         
__________________________________________________________________________
Example 1                                                                 
      SEM-Na                                                              
           10.0 1.0      30.0   270.0   720   90                          
Example 2                                                                 
      SPS*.sup.1                                                          
           10.5 1.0      30.0   270.0   720   92                          
Example 3                                                                 
      AMS*.sup.2                                                          
           9.9  1.0      30.0   270.0   720   90                          
Example 4                                                                 
      NaAS*.sup.3                                                         
           6.5  1.0      30.0   270.0   720   75                          
Example 5                                                                 
      NaMS*.sup.4                                                         
           7.1  1.0      30.0   270.0   720   78                          
__________________________________________________________________________
 *.sup.1 CH.sub.2 ═C.CH.sub.3 --COOC.sub.3 H.sub.6 --SO.sub.3 Na      
 *.sup.2 CH.sub.2 ═CH--CONH--(CCH.sub.3).sub.2 CH.sub.2 SO.sub.3 H    
 *.sup.3 CH.sub.2 ═CHCH.sub.2 SO.sub.3 Na                             
 *.sup.4 CH.sub.2 ═C.CH.sub.3 --CH.sub.2 SO.sub.3 Na                  
As is apparent from Table 3, the graft efficiency was very high with SEM-Na, SPS and AMS.
EXAMPLES 6 to 9
The reaction was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the type of the radical polymerization initiator was changed, and the compositions thereby obtained were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 4.
                                  TABLE 4                                 
__________________________________________________________________________
                 Acid        Inorganic    Graft                           
Radical          monomer                                                  
                      Vinyl  compound                                     
                                    Deionized                             
                                          effi-                           
polymeriza- Amount                                                        
                 SEM-Na                                                   
                      monomer                                             
                             Silicon                                      
                                    water ciency                          
tion initiator                                                            
            (parts)                                                       
                 (parts)                                                  
                      MMA (parts)                                         
                             nitride(parts)                               
                                    (parts)                               
                                          (%)                             
__________________________________________________________________________
Example 1                                                                 
      BPO   1.0  10.0 30.0   270.0  720   90                              
Example 6                                                                 
      LPO*.sup.1                                                          
            1.0  10.0 30.0   270.0  720   93                              
Example 7                                                                 
      AIBN*.sup.2                                                         
            1.0  10.0 30.0   270.0  720   90                              
Example 8                                                                 
      AIBA*.sup.3                                                         
            1.0  10.0 30.0   270.0  720   70                              
Example 9                                                                 
      KPS*.sup.4                                                          
            1.0  10.0 30.0   270.0  720   73                              
__________________________________________________________________________
 *.sup.1 Lauroyl peroxide                                                 
 *.sup.2 Azobisisobutyronitrile                                           
 *.sup.3 2,2'-Azobis(2-aminodipropane)hydrochloride                       
 *.sup.4 Potassium persulfate                                             
As is apparent from Table 4, the graft efficiency is higher with lipophilic radical polymerization initiators such as BPO, LPO and AIBN than with water-soluble AIBA and KPS.
EXAMPLES 10 and 11
The reaction was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the vinyl monomer identified in Table 5 was used instead of methyl methacrylate as the vinyl monomer, and the compositions thereby obtained were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 5.
                                  TABLE 5                                 
__________________________________________________________________________
                Acid          Inorganic    Graft                          
                monomer                                                   
                     Radical polymeri-                                    
                              compound                                    
                                     Deionized                            
                                           effi-                          
Vinyl      Amount                                                         
                SEM-Na                                                    
                     zation   Silicon                                     
                                     water ciency                         
monomer    (parts)                                                        
                (parts)                                                   
                     BPO (parts)                                          
                              nitride(parts)                              
                                     (parts)                              
                                           (%)                            
__________________________________________________________________________
Example 1                                                                 
      MMA  30.0 10.0 1.0      270.0  720   90                             
Example 10                                                                
      ST   30.0 10.0 1.0      270.0  720   76                             
Example 11                                                                
      AN   30.0 10.0 1.0      270.0  720   74                             
__________________________________________________________________________
 MMA: Methyl methacrylate, ST: Styrene, AN: Acrylonitrile                 
As is apparent from Table 5, according to the method of the present invention, a high graft efficiency can be attained with either one of the vinyl monomers (Examples 10 and 11).
EXAMPLE 12
The reaction was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the type of the inorganic compound was changed, and the composition thereby obtained was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 6.
                                  TABLE 6                                 
__________________________________________________________________________
                 Acid Radical Vinyl      Graft                            
                 monomer                                                  
                      polymerization                                      
                              monomer                                     
                                   Deionized                              
                                         effi-                            
Inorganic   Amount                                                        
                 SEM-Na                                                   
                      BPO     MMA  water ciency                           
Compound    (parts)                                                       
                 (parts)                                                  
                      (parts) (parts)                                     
                                   (parts)                                
                                         (%)                              
__________________________________________________________________________
Example 1                                                                 
      Silicon                                                             
            270.0                                                         
                 10.0 1.0     30.0 720   92                               
      carbide                                                             
Example 2                                                                 
      Zirconium                                                           
            270.0                                                         
                 10.0 1.0     30.0 720   93                               
      oxide                                                               
Example 3                                                                 
      Zirconium                                                           
            270.0                                                         
                 10.0 1.0     30.0 720   94                               
      nitride                                                             
Example 4                                                                 
      Zirconium                                                           
            270.0                                                         
                 10.0 1.0     30.0 720   91                               
      boride                                                              
Example 5                                                                 
      Zirconium                                                           
            270.0                                                         
                 10.0 1.0     30.0 720   90                               
      carbide                                                             
__________________________________________________________________________
As is apparent from Table 6, the method of the present invention is superior to the conventional noncatalytic polymerization system in both the polymerization degree and the graft efficiency, and thus indicates that it is capable of providing a polymeric composition of a higher quality.
EXAMPLE 13 and COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 6 to 9
As an evaluation of the applicability of the polymeric composition obtained by the method of the present invention to a composite material, a combination of the polymeric composition with polymethyl methacrylate as matrix (inorganic compound content: 80 wt. %) was press-molded at 200° C. under 20 kg/cm2, and the molded product was evaluated for the outer appearance and bending strength. The results are shown in Table 7.
                                  TABLE 7                                 
__________________________________________________________________________
                       Composite material                                 
                       composition*.sup.1                                 
                                  Outer                                   
                  Polymer                                                 
                       Polymeric  appearance                              
                                        Bending                           
Polymeric         content                                                 
                       composition                                        
                             PMMA of molded                               
                                        strength                          
composition       (%)  (parts)                                            
                             (parts)                                      
                                  product                                 
                                        (kg/cm.sup.2)                     
__________________________________________________________________________
Example 13                                                                
      Example 1   9.6  88    12   ⊚                        
                                        283                               
      Present invention                                                   
Comparative                                                               
      Compartative Example 1                                              
                  6.5  86    14   Δ                                 
                                        190                               
Example 6                                                                 
      Non-catalytic                                                       
      polymerization                                                      
      system without                                                      
      addition of BPO                                                     
Comparative                                                               
      Comparative Example 2                                               
                  1.1  81    19   X      72                               
Example 7                                                                 
      No addition of                                                      
      SEM-Na as opposed                                                   
      to Example 1                                                        
Comparative                                                               
      Comparative Example 3                                               
                  4.5  84    16   Δ                                 
                                        140                               
Example 8                                                                 
      Addition of                                                         
      dispersant as opposed                                               
      to Example 1                                                        
Comparative                                                               
      Non-treated silicon                                                 
                  --   80    20          64                               
Example 9                                                                 
      nitride                                                             
__________________________________________________________________________
 *.sup.1 The ratio of inorganic compound/organic compound = 80/20.        
 PMMA: Polymethyl methacrylate, Acrypet (VH), manufactured by Mitsubishi  
 Rayon Co., Ltd.                                                          
 ⊚: Good, Δ: Fair, X: Poor,  : Bad                   
As is apparent from Table 7, according to the method of the present invention (Example 13), a substantial improvement in the effects of the combination is observed with respect to the outer appearance and strength of the molded product.
EXAMPLE 14 and COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 10 to 14
The polymerization and evaluation were conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 except that methacrylic acid as a carboxylic acid monomer was used instead of the sulfonate monomer. For the purpose of comparison, similar polymerization operation and evaluation after the polymerization were conducted with respect to the polymerization behavior in the cases where no radical polymerization initiator was added as in the conventional non-catalytic polymerization system, no carboxylic acid monomer was added, and a dispersant was added. The results are shown in Table 8.
                                  TABLE 8                                 
__________________________________________________________________________
       Carboxylic                                                         
                 Radical Vinyl                                            
                              Inorganic                                   
                                     Dispersant                           
       acid monomer                                                       
                 polymerization                                           
                         monomer                                          
                              compound                                    
                                     Sodium hexa-                         
                                             Deionized                    
                                                  Conversion              
                                                         Consolida-       
       Methyl methacrylic                                                 
                 initiator                                                
                         MMA  Silicon nitride                             
                                     metaphosphate                        
                                             water                        
                                                  of monomer              
                                                         tion rate        
       acid*.sup.1                                                        
                 BPO (parts)                                              
                         (parts)                                          
                              (parts)*.sup.2                              
                                     (parts) (parts)                      
                                                  (%)    (%)*.sup.3       
__________________________________________________________________________
Example 14                                                                
       10.0      1.0     30.0 270.0  --      720  -100   98               
Comparative                                                               
       10.0      --      30.0 270.0  --      720  73     90               
Example 10                                                                
Comparative                                                               
       --        1.0     30.0 270.0  --      720  90      5               
Example 11                                                                
Comparative                                                               
       10.0      1.0     30.0 270.0  3.0     720  93     41               
Example 12                                                                
__________________________________________________________________________
 *.sup.1 CH.sub.2C(CH.sub.3)COOH                                          
 *.sup.2 Special grade reagent                                            
 ##STR6##                                                                 
 BPO: Benzoly peroxide, MMA: Methyl methacrylate                          
It is evident from Table 8 that in the system where no carboxylic acid monomer was added as in Comparative Example 11, the consolidation rate was very low although the conversion was high, and a tendency for separation of the inorganic compound and the homopolymer was observed. It was further evident that as compared with Comparative Example 10, the method of the present invention is superior in both the conversion of monomer and the consolidation rate. Further, in the system of Comparative Example 12 wherein a dispersant was added, the consolidation rate was substantially low, and a tendency for the separation of the homopolymer was observed as in the case of Comparative Example 11.
The polymeric compositions of Example 14 and Comparative Examples 10 to 12 as shown in Table 8, were continuously extracted by Soxhlet for 50 hours with benzene, 50 hours with acetone and 200 hours with dimethylformamide, as good solvents for methyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymers, whereby the reduction in the polymer contents was studied. The results are shown in Table 9. Here, the polymer content after being thoroughly extracted with dimethylformamide for 200 hours, was evaluated to be a graft rate in the sense that the polymer is firmly consolidated to the surface of the inorganic compound by means of a chemical bond. For the purpose of comparison, a similar extraction operation was conducted with respect to each of compositions (Comparative Examples 13 and 14) wherein an inorganic powder (silicon nitride) was coated, with a polymer obtained by the solvent blending with polymethyl methacrylate or with a methyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymer whereby the reduction in the polymer content was compared.
                                  TABLE 9                                 
__________________________________________________________________________
                                            Polymer content               
                                                        Graft             
            Preparation of      Polymer content before                    
                                            continuous extraction*.sup.4  
                                                        efficiency*.sup.5 
                                                        2                 
            polymeric composition*.sup.1                                  
                                extraction (%)                            
                                            (graft rate)                  
                                                        (%)               
__________________________________________________________________________
            Polymerization system                                         
Example 14  Presence of methacrylic acid                                  
                                9.7         9.2         92                
            (present invention)                                           
Comparative Example 10                                                    
            Non-catalytic polymerization                                  
                                6.9         2.0         26                
            system without addition of BPO                                
Comparative Example 11                                                    
            No addition of methacrylic acid                               
                                1.1         -0.0        -0                
            as opposed to Example 14                                      
Comparative Example 12                                                    
            Addition of dispersant as                                     
                                4.1         0.7         6.8               
            opposed to Example 14                                         
            Blend system                                                  
Comparative Example 13                                                    
            Solvent blend of polymethyl                                   
                                9.5         -0.0        --                
            methacrylate*.sup.2                                           
Comparative Example 14                                                    
            Solvent blend of methyl methacrylate-                         
                                9.6         -0.0        --                
            methylmethacrylic acid                                        
            copolymer*.sup.3                                              
__________________________________________________________________________
 *.sup.1 Silicon nitride was used as the inorganic compound.              
 *.sup.2 Acrypet (VH), manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., was    
 used.                                                                    
 *.sup.3 A copolymer prepared in the same manner as in Example 14 except  
 that the method of the present invention was conducted in the absence of 
 the inorganic compound, was used.                                        
 *.sup.4 continuous extraction by Soxhlet for 50 hours with benzene, 50   
 hours with acetone and 200 hours with dimethylformamide.                 
 ##STR7##                                                                 
The polymer components in the compositions of Comparative Examples 11, 13 and 14 were completely extracted by the above continuous extraction operation irrespective of the system being of a polymerization type or of a solvent blend type. This indicates that even in the polymerization system, a polymer forming in the absence of a carboxylic acid monomer, is merely chemically or physically adsorbed on the surface of the inorganic compound. In Comparative Examples 10 and 12, a part of the formed polymer was firmly consolidated to the inorganic compound, but the level of the graft rate was very low. Whereas, in Example 14 according to the method of the present invention wherein a radical polymerization initiator was added in the presence of a carboxylic acid monomer, the extracted rate after the series of severe extraction operations, was very small, indicating a high graft rate. Further, even when the polymeric composition was subjected to washing treatment with an aqueous NaOH solution, it showed a high graft rate substantially equal to the level after the extraction operations. Thus, it was confirmed that the firm consolidation of the polymer to the surface of the inorganic compound was attributable to the presence of a covalent bond-type graft linkage as a chemical bond stronger than a hydrogen bond or ionic bond at the interface.
EXAMPLES 15 to 19
The polymerization was carried out in the same manner as in Example 14, except that acrylic acid, crotonic acid, tiglic acid, cinnamic acid or maleic anhydride was used as the carboxylic acid monomer instead of methacrylic acid. The graft efficiency was measured, and the results are shown in Table 10.
                                  TABLE 10                                
__________________________________________________________________________
                                   Inorganic    Graft                     
                   Radical polymeri-                                      
                            Vinyl  compound                               
                                          Deionized                       
                                                effi-                     
Carboxylic    Amount                                                      
                   zation initiator                                       
                            monomer                                       
                                   Silicon                                
                                          water ciency                    
acid monomer  (parts)                                                     
                   BPO (parts)                                            
                            MMA (parts)                                   
                                   nitride (parts)                        
                                          (parts)                         
                                                (%)                       
__________________________________________________________________________
Example 14                                                                
      Methacrylic                                                         
              10.0 1.0      30.0   270.0  720   92                        
      acid                                                                
Example 15                                                                
      Acrylic acid*.sup.1                                                 
               7.6 1.0      30.0   270.0  720   94                        
Example 16                                                                
      Crotonic acid*.sup.2                                                
              10.0 1.0      30.0   270.0  720   92                        
Example 17                                                                
      Tiglic acid*.sup.3                                                  
              11.4 1.0      30.0   270.0  720   71                        
Example 18                                                                
      Cinnamic acid*.sup.4                                                
              16.7 1.0      30.0   270.0  720   78                        
Example 19                                                                
      Maleic  11.0 1.0      30.0   270.0  720   90                        
      anhydride*.sup.5                                                    
__________________________________________________________________________
 *.sup.1 CH.sub.2CHCO.sub.2 H                                             
 *.sup.2 CH.sub.3 CHCHCO.sub.2 H                                          
 *.sup.3 CH.sub.3 CHC(CH.sub.3)CO.sub.2 H                                 
 *.sup.4 C.sub.6 H.sub.5 CHCHCO.sub.2 H                                   
 ##STR8##                                                                 
As is apparent from Table 10, the graft efficiency was very high with methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, crotonic acid and maleic anhydride.
EXAMPLES 20 to 30
The reaction was conducted in the same manner as in Example 14 except that the type of the radical polymerization initiator was changed, and the compositions thereby obtained were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 11.
                                  TABLE 11                                
__________________________________________________________________________
Radical         Carboxylic                                                
                        Vinyl                                             
                             Inorganic    Graft                           
polymeri-       acid monomer                                              
                        monomer                                           
                             compound                                     
                                    Deionized                             
                                          effi-                           
zation     Amount                                                         
                Methacrylic                                               
                        MMA  Silicon                                      
                                    water ciency                          
initiator  (parts)                                                        
                acid (parts)                                              
                        (Parts)                                           
                             nitride(parts)                               
                                    (parts)                               
                                          (%)                             
__________________________________________________________________________
Example 14                                                                
      BPO  1.0  10.0    30.0 270.0  720   92                              
Example 20                                                                
      LPO*.sup.1                                                          
           1.0  10.0    30.0 270.0  720   95                              
Example 21                                                                
      AIBN*.sup.2                                                         
           1.0  10.0    30.0 270.0  720   92                              
Example 22                                                                
      AIBA*.sup.3                                                         
           1.0  10.0    30.0 270.0  720   72                              
Example 23                                                                
      KPS*.sup.4                                                          
           1.0  10.0    30.0 270.0  720   75                              
__________________________________________________________________________
 *.sup.1 Lauroyl peroxide                                                 
 *.sup.2 Azobisisobutyronitrile                                           
 *.sup.3 2,2'-Azobis(2-aminodipropane)hydrochloride                       
 *.sup.4 Potassium persulfate                                             
As is apparent from Table 11, the graft efficiency was higher with lipophilic radical polymerization initiators such as BPO, LPO and AIBN than with water-soluble AIBA and KPS.
EXAMPLES 24 and 25
The reaction was conducted in the same manner as in Example 14 except that the vinyl monomer identified in Table 12 was used instead of methyl methacrylate as the vinyl monomer, and the compositions thereby obtained were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 12.
                                  TABLE 12                                
__________________________________________________________________________
                Carboxylic      Inorganic    Graft                        
                acid monomer                                              
                        Radical compound                                  
                                       Deionized                          
                                             effi-                        
Vinyl      Amount                                                         
                Methacrylic                                               
                        polymerization                                    
                                Silicon                                   
                                       water ciency                       
monomer    (parts)                                                        
                acid (parts)                                              
                        BPO (parts)                                       
                                nitride(parts)                            
                                       (parts)                            
                                             (%)                          
__________________________________________________________________________
Example 14                                                                
      MMA  30.0 10.0    1.0     270.0  720   92                           
Example 24                                                                
      ST   30.0 10.0    1.0     270.0  720   78                           
Example 25                                                                
      AN   30.0 10.0    1.0     270.0  720   72                           
__________________________________________________________________________
 MMA: Methyl methacrylate, ST: Styrene, AN: Acrylonitrile                 
As is apparent from Table 12, according to the method of the present invention, a high graft efficiency can be attained with either one of the vinyl monomers (Examples 24 and 25). The applicability of a wide range of vinyl monomers is a feature of the present invention in addition to the features of the high conversion and graft rate.
EXAMPLE 26
The reaction was conducted in the same manner as in Example 14 except that the type of the inorganic compound was changed, and the composition thereby obtained was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 13.
                                  TABLE 13                                
__________________________________________________________________________
                 Carboxylic                                               
                         Radical poly-                                    
                                Vinyl      Graft                          
                 acid monomer                                             
                         merization                                       
                                monomer                                   
                                     Deionized                            
                                           effi-                          
Inorganic   Amount                                                        
                 Methacrylic                                              
                         BPO    MMA  water ciency                         
compound    (parts)                                                       
                 acid (parts)                                             
                         (parts)                                          
                                (parts)                                   
                                     (parts)                              
                                           (%)                            
__________________________________________________________________________
Example 1                                                                 
      Silicon                                                             
            270.0                                                         
                 10.0    1.0    30.0 720   94                             
      carbide                                                             
Example 2                                                                 
      Zirconium                                                           
            270.0                                                         
                 10.0    1.0    30.0 720   95                             
      oxide                                                               
Example 3                                                                 
      Zirconium                                                           
            270.0                                                         
                 10.0    1.0    30.0 720   96                             
      nitride                                                             
Example 4                                                                 
      Zirconium                                                           
            270.0                                                         
                 10.0    1.0    30.0 720   93                             
      boride                                                              
Example 5                                                                 
      Zirconium                                                           
            270.0                                                         
                 10.0    1.0    30.0 720   92                             
      carbide                                                             
__________________________________________________________________________
As is apparent from Table 13, the method of the present invention is superior to the conventional noncatalytic polymerization system in both the polymerization degree and the graft efficiency, and thus indicates that it is capable of providing a polymeric composition of a higher quality.
EXAMPLE 27 and COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 15 to 18
As an evaluation of the applicability of the polymeric composition obtained by the method of the present invention to a composite material, a combination of the polymeric composition with polymethyl methacrylate as matrix (inorganic compound content: 80 wt. %) was press-molded at 200° C. under 20 kg/cm2, and the molded product was evaluated for the outer appearance and bending strength. The results are shown in Table 14.
                                  TABLE 14                                
__________________________________________________________________________
                        Composite material                                
                        composition*.sup. 1                               
                                   Outer                                  
                   Polymer                                                
                        Polymeric  appearance                             
                                         Bending                          
       Polymeric   content                                                
                        composition                                       
                              PMMA of molded                              
                                         strength                         
       composition (%)  (parts)                                           
                              (parts)                                     
                                   product                                
                                         (kg/cm.sup.2)                    
__________________________________________________________________________
Example 27                                                                
       Example 14  9.7  88    12   ⊚                       
                                         288                              
       Present invention                                                  
Comparative                                                               
       Comparative Example 10                                             
                   6.9  86    14   Δ                                
                                         193                              
Example 15                                                                
       Non-catalytic                                                      
       polymerization                                                     
       system without                                                     
       addition of BPO                                                    
Comparative                                                               
       Comparative Example 11                                             
                   1.1  81    19   X      72                              
Example 16                                                                
       No addition of                                                     
       methacrylic acid as                                                
       opposed to Example 14                                              
Comparative                                                               
       Comparative Example 12                                             
                   4.1  83    17   Δ                                
                                         120                              
Example 17                                                                
       Addition of                                                        
       dispersant as opposed                                              
       to Example 14                                                      
Comparative                                                               
       Non-treated silicon                                                
                   --   80    20          64                              
Example 18                                                                
       nitride                                                            
__________________________________________________________________________
 *.sup.1 The ratio of inorganic compound/organic compound = 80/20.        
 PMMA: Polymethyl methacrylate, Acrypet (VH), manufactured by Mitsubishi  
 Rayon Co., Ltd.                                                          
 ⊚: Good, Δ: Fair, X: Poor,  : Bad                   
As is apparent from Table 14, according to the method of the present invention (Example 27), a substantial improvement in the effects of the combination is observed with respect to the outer appearance and strength of the molded product.

Claims (8)

We claim:
1. A method for preparing a polymeric composition having an inorganic compound firmly consolidated thereinto, which comprises polymerizing at least one radical polymerizable vinyl monomer using a peroxide or azo compound radical initiatior in an aqueous polymerization medium, which medium comprises an inorganic compound dispersed in the presence of an organic acid monomer or organic acid salt monomer, wherein said inorganic compound is selected from the group consisting of a carbide, nitride and boride of silicon and ziroconium, and zirconium oxide; and wherein said organic acid monomer and organic acid salt monomer is a sulfonic acid monomer or sulfonate monomer of the formula: ##STR9## wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom, a C1 -C20 alkyl group or a halogen atom; X is --CONH-- or ##STR10## wherein each of R2 and R3 is a hydrogen atom or a C1 -C15 alkyl group; and R4 is a C1 -C15 alkylene group, --COO(CH2m, wherein m is an integer of 1 to 20 or CH2n, wherein n is an integer of 0 to 20; and Y is a hydrogen atom, an ammonium radical or an alkali metal atom.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic compound is a carbide, nitride or boride of silicon or zirconium.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic compound is zirconium oxide.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sulfonic acid monomer or sulfonate monomer is 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, sodium 2-methacryloylethanesulfonate, sodium 3-methacryloylpropanesulfonate, sodium 2-propenesulfonate or sodium 2-methyl-2-propenesulfonate.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radical polymerization initiator is decomposable at a temperature within a range of from 40° to 100° C.
6. The method according to claim 2, wherein said inorganic compound is silicon carbide.
7. The method according to claim 4, wherein said sulfonate monomer is sodium 2-methacryloylethanesulfonate.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said polymerizable vinyl monomer is methyl methacrylate.
US06/898,496 1985-08-29 1986-08-21 Method for preparing a polymeric composition Expired - Fee Related US4783501A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP18864285A JPS6250313A (en) 1985-08-29 1985-08-29 Production of polymer composition
JP60-188642 1985-08-29
JP60-188643 1985-08-29
JP18864385A JPS6250314A (en) 1985-08-29 1985-08-29 Production of polymer composition

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07/246,737 Division US4910251A (en) 1985-08-29 1988-09-20 Method for preparing a polymeric composition

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4783501A true US4783501A (en) 1988-11-08

Family

ID=26505054

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US06/898,496 Expired - Fee Related US4783501A (en) 1985-08-29 1986-08-21 Method for preparing a polymeric composition
US07/246,737 Expired - Fee Related US4910251A (en) 1985-08-29 1988-09-20 Method for preparing a polymeric composition

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07/246,737 Expired - Fee Related US4910251A (en) 1985-08-29 1988-09-20 Method for preparing a polymeric composition

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (2) US4783501A (en)
EP (1) EP0212621B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3689160T2 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5210163A (en) * 1990-06-07 1993-05-11 Arco Chemical Technology, L.P. Process for preparing alternating copolymers of olefinically unsaturated sulfonate salts and unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydrides
US5322889A (en) * 1991-09-24 1994-06-21 Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Composite composition having high transparency and process for producing same

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4762863A (en) * 1987-03-30 1988-08-09 Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Photopolymerizable dental composition containing a hexafunctional urethane methacrylate based on isocyanuric acid
CN112513175B (en) * 2018-08-03 2023-02-21 大金工业株式会社 Fluoropolymer-containing composition and molded article

Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3265644A (en) * 1963-02-18 1966-08-09 Nat Lead Co Particle-polymer compositions and process for making same
US3868347A (en) * 1972-10-17 1975-02-25 Wacker Chemie Gmbh Process for the production of polyvinyl chloride-coated silicate-containing materials
US3884871A (en) * 1973-06-29 1975-05-20 Nl Industries Inc Process for coating pigment particles with organic polymers
US3904568A (en) * 1972-02-24 1975-09-09 Lion Fat Oil Co Ltd Method for grafting organic polymers onto inorganic colloidal material
JPS5580412A (en) * 1978-12-12 1980-06-17 Kanegafuchi Chem Ind Co Ltd Preparation of vinyl chloride polymer composition
US4251576A (en) * 1974-05-29 1981-02-17 Imperial Chemical Industries Limited Inorganic reinforcing phase dispersed and bonded to polymer matrix
JPS56158140A (en) * 1980-05-09 1981-12-05 Itaru Yamaguchi Production of polymer coated body
JPS56161461A (en) * 1980-05-16 1981-12-11 Hitachi Ltd Resin composition
JPS5710604A (en) * 1980-06-23 1982-01-20 Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd Preparation of novel polymer composition
JPS5774301A (en) * 1980-10-29 1982-05-10 Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd Production of novel polymer composition
US4421660A (en) * 1980-12-15 1983-12-20 The Dow Chemical Company Colloidal size hydrophobic polymers particulate having discrete particles of an inorganic material dispersed therein
US4433097A (en) * 1980-01-22 1984-02-21 Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Vinyl chloride resin talc-embedded composition and method of manufacturing same
US4435540A (en) * 1981-01-06 1984-03-06 Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Novel polymer composition
US4508761A (en) * 1982-02-19 1985-04-02 Central Glass Company Limited Method of preparing polymer-coated particulate inorganic material
US4678819A (en) * 1984-08-30 1987-07-07 Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Compositions for artificial marbles and process for producing artificial marbles therefrom

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3714102A (en) * 1970-12-02 1973-01-30 Gulf Oil Canada Ltd Polymer encapsulation of finely divided solids
JPS5374118A (en) * 1976-12-09 1978-07-01 Toa Gosei Chem Ind Additives for paper making
JPS6054630B2 (en) * 1978-04-21 1985-11-30 株式会社精工舎 gear system
DE2927249A1 (en) * 1978-07-07 1980-01-17 Sinloihi Co Ltd FINE SPHERICAL POLYMER PARTICLES CONTAINING AN INORGANIC PIGMENT AND / OR A BLACK COLORANT, AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF

Patent Citations (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3265644A (en) * 1963-02-18 1966-08-09 Nat Lead Co Particle-polymer compositions and process for making same
US3904568A (en) * 1972-02-24 1975-09-09 Lion Fat Oil Co Ltd Method for grafting organic polymers onto inorganic colloidal material
US3868347A (en) * 1972-10-17 1975-02-25 Wacker Chemie Gmbh Process for the production of polyvinyl chloride-coated silicate-containing materials
US3884871A (en) * 1973-06-29 1975-05-20 Nl Industries Inc Process for coating pigment particles with organic polymers
US4251576A (en) * 1974-05-29 1981-02-17 Imperial Chemical Industries Limited Inorganic reinforcing phase dispersed and bonded to polymer matrix
JPS5580412A (en) * 1978-12-12 1980-06-17 Kanegafuchi Chem Ind Co Ltd Preparation of vinyl chloride polymer composition
US4433097A (en) * 1980-01-22 1984-02-21 Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Vinyl chloride resin talc-embedded composition and method of manufacturing same
JPS56158140A (en) * 1980-05-09 1981-12-05 Itaru Yamaguchi Production of polymer coated body
JPS56161461A (en) * 1980-05-16 1981-12-11 Hitachi Ltd Resin composition
JPS5710604A (en) * 1980-06-23 1982-01-20 Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd Preparation of novel polymer composition
JPS5774301A (en) * 1980-10-29 1982-05-10 Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd Production of novel polymer composition
US4421660A (en) * 1980-12-15 1983-12-20 The Dow Chemical Company Colloidal size hydrophobic polymers particulate having discrete particles of an inorganic material dispersed therein
US4435540A (en) * 1981-01-06 1984-03-06 Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Novel polymer composition
US4546145A (en) * 1981-01-06 1985-10-08 Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Polymer composition
US4508761A (en) * 1982-02-19 1985-04-02 Central Glass Company Limited Method of preparing polymer-coated particulate inorganic material
US4678819A (en) * 1984-08-30 1987-07-07 Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Compositions for artificial marbles and process for producing artificial marbles therefrom

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5210163A (en) * 1990-06-07 1993-05-11 Arco Chemical Technology, L.P. Process for preparing alternating copolymers of olefinically unsaturated sulfonate salts and unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydrides
US5322889A (en) * 1991-09-24 1994-06-21 Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Composite composition having high transparency and process for producing same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3689160T2 (en) 1994-05-05
EP0212621A2 (en) 1987-03-04
US4910251A (en) 1990-03-20
DE3689160D1 (en) 1993-11-18
EP0212621B1 (en) 1993-10-13
EP0212621A3 (en) 1989-01-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4546145A (en) Polymer composition
CA1337163C (en) Polymeric particles and their preparation
CA1221195A (en) Use of hydrophobically modified water-soluble polymers in suspension polymerization
US4988771A (en) Graft copolymer having dispersion stabilizing effect, a process for producing the same, and a process of emulsion polymerization using the same
JP2002537473A5 (en)
US5916963A (en) Water-based resin dispersion and process for the production thereof
US4426482A (en) Process for producing stable polymer emulsions
US4783501A (en) Method for preparing a polymeric composition
DK0830400T3 (en) Powders of core / sheath film-forming polymers that are redispersible in water
US3879495A (en) Impact-resistant rubber-modified plastics and process for producing the same
EP0264721A2 (en) Thermoplastic resin composition
US5605972A (en) Graft and core-shell copolymers having improved phase bonding between graft substrate and grafted-on polymer phase
KR100206452B1 (en) Fluorine-containing graft copolymer and its manufacturing method
JP2648179B2 (en) Methacrylic resin cast plate excellent in impact resistance and method for producing the same
CS212792B2 (en) Thermoplastic material and method of manufacturing same
US4853438A (en) Water-soluble polymers bearing quaternary ammonium or pyridinium groups and alkoxysilyl groups, a method for their preparation, and the use thereof
CA2014022A1 (en) Precipitation polymerization of copolymers of a vinyl lactam and a polymerizable carboxylic acid in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent
EP0528806A1 (en) Ethylene vinyl silane copolymer and its preparation
JPH0549704B2 (en)
JPH01299810A (en) Graft copolymer, polymer material composition containing said copolymer and foamable polystyrene bead containing said copolymer and preparation of said bead
JPS6250314A (en) Production of polymer composition
JPS62288618A (en) Transparent resin
JPS61118130A (en) Aqueous dispersion stabilizer of fine-particle silica powder
JP2505842B2 (en) Electrorheological fluid composition
AU2003276535A1 (en) Copolymers comprising unsaturation and process for preparation thereof

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: MITSUBISHI RAYON CO., LTD., 3-19, KYOBASHI 2-CHOME

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:SASAKI, ISAO;MUKAI, NOBUHIRO;IGE, HITOSHI;REEL/FRAME:004928/0447

Effective date: 19860812

Owner name: MITSUBISHI RAYON CO., LTD., JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SASAKI, ISAO;MUKAI, NOBUHIRO;IGE, HITOSHI;REEL/FRAME:004928/0447

Effective date: 19860812

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 8

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20001108

STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362